Interactive lecture ii Jolanta Babiak Winter semester 2018/2019 Using scientific methods to study human behavior and thinking processes Interactive lecture ii Jolanta Babiak Winter semester 2018/2019

Scientific methods Evidence about human behavior gathered by careful observation and measurement: empirical evidence Empirical approach must be objective: not influenced by observer’s opinions or emotions (observer’s bias) Research aims, e.g. to describe the effects of stress on memory Research hypothesis: a statement e.g. The more stressed we are, the worse our memory will be Directional eg. Eating pasta for dinner makes you sleep more (one-tailed hypothesis) Non-directional eg. Eating pasta for dinner alters the amount you sleep (two- tailed hypothesis)

Scientific methods, cont. Variables: something that is observed, measured, controlled or manipulated Process of operationalizing variables: bringing them to being; putting them in the situation where they can be measured eg. Social class as annual family income; intelligence as performance on a standard IQ test Sampling Participants: people who take part in research Sample: the selected participants from a population Sample must be typical or representative of a population Random sampling , opportunity sampling, volunteer sampling

Ethical considerations Informed consent Deception Debriefing Right to withdraw Confidentiality Protection

The reliability and validity of psychological research Reliability: consistency Anyone else using the the same method would get the same result Replicability of the study and the results Validity: extent to which a test measures what is is intended to measure

Methods and techniques The laboratory experiment Used to uncover causal relationships Involves manipulating and controlling variables The field experiment Conducted in natural environment Observational methods Participant observation Non-participant observation

Methods and techniques, cont. Content analysis: analyzing the content of text, television programs, speeches Self-report techniques Questionnaires Interviews: structured, semi-structure and unstructured interview Correlational analysis Shows whether or not two variables are associated (not a causal relationship) Positive correlation r = 1,0 Negative correlation r = - 1,0 Zero correlation r = 0,0 Case study

Quantitative and qualitative research Quantitative research: getting numerical data Involves measuring something in some way Utilizes statistical techniques to analyze and interpret it Qualitative research: describes events using words instead of numbers Takes a point of view of the participant Is less controlled and structured compared to quantitative research Can be difficult and involving hard work to analyze

Ten-Item Personality Inventory-(TIPI) Strongly disagree: 1; disagree moderately: 2; disagree a little: 3; neither agree nor disagree: 4; agree a little: 5; agree moderately: 6; agree strongly I see myself as: 1 _____ Extraverted, enthusiastic. 2 _____ Critical, quarrelsome. 3 _____ Dependable, self-disciplined. 4 _____ Anxious, easily upset. 5 _____ Open to new experiences, complex. 6 _____ Reserved, quiet. 7 _____ Sympathetic, warm. 8 _____ Disorganized, careless. 9 _____ Calm, emotionally stable. 10 _____ Conventional, uncreative.

TIPI scale scoring (“R” denotes reverse-scored items): Extraversion: 1, 6R; Agreeableness: 2R, 7; Conscientiousness; 3, 8R; Emotional Stability: 4R, 9; Openness to Experiences: 5, 10R.